With respect to 'new universities' v traditional universities - I think you have to consider each university on its own merits, and place issues of funding, supervisor quality and department quality, above the general perceived reputation of the university.

That said, I would be wary of some new universities for two reasons:
(i) if you want a career in academia, having a CV of only 'new universities' may prevent you from achieving a post at an older uni (due to the academic snobbery amongst *some* quarters and disciplines i.e, Oxbridge recruits Oxbridge, UoL recruits UoL, red-bricks recruit red-bricks) - obviously this doesn't always happen, but it's not uncommon.
(ii) some new universities have staff with little or no research capabilities i.e. they used to be FE teachers, who in 1992 or later became lecturers. Sheffield Hallam is an established new university - so this probably won't apply.

Depending on which department you're aligned to - LSE and QMUL both offer visiting research places. In the case of LSE, the fee is quite high.

I know lots of people who write-up there PhDs away from university, so to do the last year in France wouldn't be a problem for most unis. But you'd have to be willing to visit your supervisor, and continue to fulfill any academic duties (if any), such as, attending seminars.

Speak to Newcastle University, and particularly, whoever deals with PhDs administration in your department.

If you are starting in Sept, I would think getting funding at this point is unlikely, as least for your first year.

If you're not presenting, it's unlikely anyone will know you're not there. Just email the organisers and say you won't be attending in case the place can go to someone else.

Since you're part-time and willing to self-fund, your first port of call is to decide which universities are suitable for you. For instance, locality might be your first issue if you have children. Then you need to look at the department and see if there are specialists in your research field. Then approach those academics directly (usually via email) and ask for a meeting. Go and talk to them about your interests, and they'll offer opinion on your research proposal (and try to snap you up as you're self-funding). Then you can submit a formal application and research proposal.

With respect to your research proposal, you need to offer an 'original/distinct contribution' to your field. This is normally pushing existing research one step forward (rarely do people carry out research in completely unique areas). The PhD needs to be of 'publishable quality/standard' when submitted, but this doesn't mean you need to tailor your proposal to something that may be published.

Hi!

With respect to PhD advertisements, you will see adverts that offer very specific PhD projects usually in the sciences areas, or you'll see PhD adverts that just advertise studentships/funding without any particular project in mind. For literature, you're not likely to find specific adverts, but rather you'll approach the university yourself.

"I think that 4-6 hours of PhD level thinking is the max my brain can do on any day"

I find this too. If I work intensely for about 6 hrs, my brain really doesn't want to work after that time. I sometimes fear I'll be the same way when I start full-time employment again, but then I realise how easier 'normal' work can be compared to sitting & pouring over a PhD.

I'm using a large overdraft to see me through the write-up period. My parents are also being very generous.

Finishing the PhD with debt is no fun

I'm not at St Andrews - but I'd just like to generally comment that I find all these generic introductory courses ran by uni's or the GRADschool programme to be, for the most part, completely useless and loaded with psychobabble.

@mambo, how rude of the prospective supervisor to pooh-pooh Birmingham. In many respects, I'd put Birmingham above Notts. Of course, maybe you should have ask him why he wasn't based at Oxbridge - snobbery is all relative .

On a general note, while Nottingham has a lovely campus, the general off-campus areas of Nottingham are not so nice. Whereas, just outside central Sheffield, there is a very nice surburban student area (I forget the name, but it's the equivalent of Newcastle's Jesmond).

As for gun crime, I just read on the BBC website that the North West of England (Liverpool & Manchester) has the highest levels of gun-shot injuries entering casuality units. The article was attempting to place the recent stabbing rates in London in perspective with the rest of the country.

Equally, I would be swayed away from Surrey because of the exorbitant cost of living in Guildford.

All that said, I don't attend a RG university. I chose another university (over Cambridge) because I was offered better funding and the leading expert in my field. Although I'm glad my other degrees are from RG universities, as some companies will only recruit from the RG list.

But as I said, reputation/ranking can only represent one element of your decision. For instance, I'd be swayed towards Notts because it has a lovely campus whereas Sheffield is very urban.

"Does your university being a member of The Russell Group really make that much difference to a PhD student?"

Well RG universities tend to have the best international reputations, the most funding, and, consequently, should offer the best facilities and best academics. Basically, it's just the traditional universities defining themselves as the best. The press are dubbing the RG as the British Ivy League, and therefore, it is gaining a growing reputation of being the creme de la creme of British education. Although this has now been qualified again by the 'Golden Triangle' (Oxbridge, Imperial, LSE, KCL, UCL). One wonders who sits down and comes up with these categorisations!!

Russell Group.